Packaging machine



Dec. 22, 1959 c. c. CLAPP PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July23, 1956 ZZZ k N W0 R fifm m fl J a a Q a? Dec; 22, 1959 c. c. CLAPPPACKAGING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 23, 1956 INVENTOR.

CHA FILES C. CLAPP Dec. 22, 1959 c. c. CLAPP PACKAGING MACHINE FiledJuly 25, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

CHARLES C. CLAPP A 7'7'0 RA/EY Unit d ta sPatfifO" PACKAGING MACHINECharles C. Clapp, Tacoma, Wash., assignor to Weyerhaeuser TimberCompany, Tacoma, Wash., a corporation of Washington This inventionrelates to a method and apparatus for packaging articles, and, althoughthe invention is not to be limited to the packaging of a specificproduct, it is described herein in connection with the packaging of afuel product known on the market as Pres-to-Logs. Such fuel product,made chiefly for fireplace use, is cylindrical in shape and is formed bycompressing sawdust containing a natural or added binder.

A principal object of the present invention is toprovide a novel methodand apparatus for wrapping a plurality of articles together in a commonpackage.

Another object is to provide an improved method of applying andsecuringa single flat wrapper to a plurality of objects to form a break-apartpackage.

"Another object is to provide an Improved packaging machine whichapplies and secures a wrapper in one direction around a plurality ofarticles to form an opensided package.

More specific objects are to provide a packaging machine having meansfor perforating a wrapper in longitudinal lines and means for applyingglue lines to the wrapper on both sides of the perforation lines foradher- I ing articles of manufacture to said wrapper parallel to saidperforations whereby a single article and its wrapper portion can betorn from the package; to' provide a machine arranged to drop articlesto be packaged on asuspended wrapper whereby a partial folding of thewrapper is accomplished by the weight of the article; and to pro- L videa combination off-bearing conveyor and press means which carries thepackage to an unloading station and which applies pressure to gluejoints between the package and articles therein while the package istraveling to said unloading station.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide controlmeans for an electrical and pneumatic system for efficiently governingthe performance .of a series of operations in sequence in a packagingoperation.

In the present packaging machine, elongated flat wrap- I per blanks aremoved individually from the bottom of a stack of the blanks in alongitudinal direction into perforating means which act to apply fulllength perforation lines to the blanks and to feed the blanks throughglue rollers which apply longitudinal glue lines to the wrapper on eachside of the perforating lines. The perforating means also feeds thewrapper blanks into pairs of beveled rollers which transversely curvethe blanks to impart longitudinal rigidity thereto and which project theblanks in such rigid condition onto spaced supports above the floor of awrapping station. The articlesto be packaged are fed to the wrappingstation and positioned above the-- into an-ofi-bearing conveyor. 7

2,917,876 Patented Dec. 22, 1959 In the final folded condition of thewrapper the glue lines extend longitudinally around the articles, andthe olf-bearing conveyor has pressure applying means operative on thewrapper over the glue lines for forming an integral connection betweenthe open-sided package and the articles therein so that the articleswill not fall out. When the need for an individual article arises, thewrapper can be torn along the perforated lines to separate said articlefrom'the rest of the package, together with its wrapperiportiona Whenthe article so wrapped comprises artificial log fuel, the wrapper ispreferably formed of cardboard whereby the portion of the wrapper whichis adhered to each article can be used to assist in igniting the logs.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects andadvantages will become apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferredform of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that theinvention may take other forms, and that all such modifications andvariations within the scope of the appended claims which will occur topersons skilled in the art are included in the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a completed package formed by themethod and apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a wrapper blank for form- 'ing the package ofFigure I;

Figure -3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the packaging machine. forforming the package shown in Figure 1, taken onthe line. 3-3. of Figure4;

Figure 4 is a top plan'yiew of the machine;

I Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 showingthe bevel roller assembly for curving the blanks;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the wrapping station, withcertain parts in section, showing a wrapper blank partly folded aroundthe articles;

.Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to vFigure 4,showing feed means for delivering a predetermined number of articles tothe wrapping station; 1 Figure 9 shows a wiring diagram for drive motorsof the machine;

Figure 10 shows a wiring diagram of the electrical system forcontrolling the operation of the machine; and

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of the fluid pressure systemwhich performs various operations in the machine.

The packaging machine and method of the present invention form a unitpackage P for a plurality of objects, as shown in Figure l. The wrapperfor this package, designated by the reference character W, is shown inblank form in Figure 2. This wrapper and the unit package P per se formno part of the present invention. The vwrapper W is illustrated hereinfor the packaging of cylindrical articles A, such as the wood fuelproduct referred to on the market as Pres-to-Logs, and are formed of abendableand combustible material, such as a corrugated cardboard orsimilar material.

' Referring specifically to Figure 2, the wrapper blank W has aplurality of transverse pre-formed crease lines 15, 16, 17 and 18. Inthe completed form of the package, this wrapper is folded on its creaselines to form a bottom wall 20, a top wall 21, a pair of end walls 22,and an'upper flap member 23. As will be more fully describedhereinafter, the wrapper is provided, by the operation of the machine,with longitudinal perforation lines 24 intermediate the articles A, asshown in Figure ama s:

1, whereby one of the articles, together with its wrapper portion, maybe torn from the rest of the package. Each of the individual articlesA'is glued to the wrapper by glue lines 25 extending longitudinallyentirely around the article so that each articleis permanently unitedwith its separable wrapper portion. i i '9 The machine for forming thepackage of Figural com: prises a supporting framework havinglongitudinal angle members 28, transverse angle'memebrs 29, and uprightside support members 30. At one'end' of the. machine is a magazine orhopper 32 forfwrappers having upstanding angle. corner members, 33 and afront wall 34having a' bottom slot 85 through which a single wrap'pe 'rWmay be ejected at a'time. A wiper blade 36 hinged. at itsuppf edgeisdisposed across the transverse, slot' 35 and is adapted to engagethe'upwardly'facin'g surface of the wrappers forthe purposeof holdingthe wrappersjback so as to allow only one. wrapper blankat a time "tofeed out and for reriioviiig an'y. paperffr'agments or other foreignmatter which may be present on the wr'appers'. The bottom wall of thehopper '32'comprises. a sup: porting plate 40, or other suitablesupporting means such as longitudinal bars. As best seen in Figure 4,the plate 40 has longitudinal slots 41 and 42 joined by a restrictedthroat portion 43 which forms a guide for a feed arm 4 5, The arm 45 hasa U-shaped head 47 carrying a plurality of upwardly projecting teeth orsharpened pins 48, the teeth 48. being engageable with the lowermostwrapper W and being forwardly inclined so that when the arm 45 movestoward the front of the magazine, a wrapperT'will move therewith. In thereturn, or leftward movement, of the arm 45, the angularity of the teethpermits the head to slide freely under the lowermost wrapper; The head47 has transversely projectingp'ins 50 slidablein grooves 51 in the side'wallsofthfe slot 41. The height of the grooves 51 is greater. than thepin diameter, wherebyithe head 47 is ahapted'to belifted slightly at'predetermined times to afpositiori whereby the teeth 48 ti'onally engagethe'lowermost wrapper.

The end of the arm 45 opposite from the head 47 is pivotally mounted ona transverse. pin 55 slidably mounted in grooves 56 in the side wallsof.slot 42. Pin 55 carries one or more downwardly -depending cars '56 towhich is pivotally attached a pitman 57' connectedtoa crank arm58keyed-to a shaft 60;.Also keyed to. the shaft 6S ar'e a sprockefwheel62,'shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, and a switch-actuatingwheel 64having'a pair of knobs or projections 65 and 66 on one side thereof. Thetwo' knobs are at" different radial distancesv from'the center of thewheel 64 and are engageable with's witch artists and 69 ofmicro-switches 70 and 71', respectively, thefpurpo'se' ofwhich will bedescribed hereinafter. When the'rnachine is in operation 'ahd the wheel64 is rotating, the knobs 65 and 66 engage and move past theirrespective switch arms to momentarily close the switches. 'The shaft60in Figure 3 projects toward the observer from the wheel 64 and thecrank arm 58, which is keyed to said shaft, is spaced sufliciently fromthe wheel 'to clear the switches 70 and 71. i i

The pitman 57 carries an upstanding compression spring 72 on a stud 73,and'this' sp rin'g is located ina predetermined position on'the pitmanand is of 'a' p cdetermined length 'soas to be engageable with the undersurface of. the head 47 only when the crank arm moving through its upperarc. In this upper arcuate movement of the crank arm, the pitmandrawsthe: aim 45 through its forward s'troke, and, in thisfforward.stroke the spring72 eng'ages'the head'47 wherein thefh'eati is biasedupwardly to a point Where the transverse pins 50 engage the top of theside grooves 51. Such upward movement of the head 47 insures a positivegripping of the lowermost wrapper by the teeth 48during each feedstroke. Sprocket 62- on the shaft 60' is driven by a chain 75 engagedwith one wheel 'or-auouble' sprocket k'ye'd P i Y IY f? 4. to a shaft77. Shaft 77 is driven by a chain 79 engageable' with the other sprocketwheel 76 and a'spr'ocket80 keyed to a shaft 81. Sprocket 80 is in turndriven by a chain 83 engageable with a sprocket 84 driven by an electricmotor 85. The direction of rotation of this drive mechanism is clockwiseas indicated by the arrow adjacent the switch actuator wheel 64.

Also keyed to the shaft 77= is asprocket wheel engaged by a chain 91 which transmits power to a sprocket 92 keyedtoa shaft 93 and-a sprocket94-.keyedto'a shaft 95, these three sprockets being shown. indotteld"lines. in Figure 3. Also keyed to the shaft 95 is a gear97, also shownin. dotted lines in Figure. 3, and: a pair of. lower perforating wheelsor rolls 98 having a plurality of pins 99 on their peripheral edges,only one of such wheels being shown in Figure 3. Also keyed to the shaft93 is a gear 100.

Disposed. above the s haft95. is, a shaft 102 to which is keyed. asprocket 1 03 anda pair of upper perforating Wh /QI.I.Q 1 9 -t hav ng. poje tin p n 06. n. h ir na inherah ed es, he. Whe l 05. a e di p sed.-directly. over thewhe els 9 8, and theperforating pins in each pair ofupper andlower wheelsare staggered so asto inter; mesh, whe n. thewheels, rotate, the space between th wheels, exclusive of the teeth,being substantially the thickness, of a wrapper W. The wheels, 98.. and10.5.- are adapted to providejthewrapper W with, the perforation lines24 by, of which individual articlesA can. be torn, togetherwith, itsportion of the. wrapper, from. the remaining. part, of the package. Thelower perforating wheels 98 are rotatable in a clockwise direction andthe upper. wheels lilfi arejrotatable in a counte'r clockwise di- Q ZQIIwhereby, when. drivenjby themotor 85, theyare adaptedttoifeeda wrapperto the. right into. themachine. These wheels thereby serve the dualpurpose of feeding and perforatingihewrapperst Mounted. on. a stub.shaft and. meshing with the ga 1...10-3; on the shaft-102 is an idlergear 111. This geanalso'. meshes with a large gear 113 keyed on ashaft114. which also has. keyed thereto three"'glue-applying rollers.'115,'it being noted, as viewed in Figure 4; that the rollers. 115 are'instaggered relation relative to the perforating. rollers. 98 and 105-so that in the operation ofv the machinethe gluelines 25 are applied"parallel to the perforation'lines 24 bu't offset therefrom." Theglueapplying rollers 115 are in surface contactwith a" glue supplyroller 118- on a 'sha ft 119 on which is keyeda gear 120 in meshingengagement with the gear 113. Roller 118 projects into'the side of aglue pot and picks up glue therefrom and deposits it'on'theiolleis 115.The -bottom plate 40 for theimagazine 32 extends into the machine'belowthe rollers 115 and these rollers are'dis o'sedabevejthe plate 40a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the wrappers,whereby, when the perforatihg'wh'eels' 9 8 and 105 move a wrapperbetwe'eri the rollers andthe plate 40, three glue lines 25 will b'ea'pplied tothe' iipper surface of the wrappers.

Disposedab0vethe. shaft 93 is a shaft 127 having a gear '128keyedfthereto which is in meshing engage merit with the g ear on theshaft 93. Keyed to the shaft 9 3 "a"re apair'of bevel rollers 130, andkeyed to the sh aft127 are a pair of bevel rollers 13 1, As. best seeninjFigure i' the'bevelportions of therollers 130. and 131 incline'downwardly toward a point between the rollers and when'the wjrapperiis'engaged by these pairs, of roll s,"th poi'tion thereofwhich:hasniovedfthrough the roller viill bf c lil'ved intb a. ti'o'il'ghshapef This. tran iv'er'se curvature: of the wrapper. gives itlongitudinal rigidity, and the portion which 'has pproceeded throughthefrollefrs willbe projected rigidly in a straight line. As seen inFigure 3 the rollers 131 are slightly offset to the left relative to therollers 130, whereby, in addition tocausing'the wrapper toassuine acurved shape in cross Section, these rollers direcrihe'"wrappeiupwararyare slight inclination. 'A wrapper'W isishown in Figure 3 completing itsmovement throughthebevel rollers.

Disposed in longitudinal relation to the machine frame is a doubleacting fluid pressure operated cylinder 135 having fluid pressure pipes136 and'137 connected to opposite ends thereof and having a plunger 138equipped with an upright head plate 139 having a top forwardly bent lip140. The operation of the cylinder 135 is controlled by a four-way valveactuated by the switches 70 and 71, to be described in connection withthe electrical and pneumatic systems.

Disposed adjacent the bevel rollers 130 and 131 is a wrapping station145 and associated with this wrapping station is a magazine or hopper146 supported on upright frame members 147 and comprising achannel-shaped chute or guideway 148 inclined slightly toward thewrapping station. The chute 148 comprises a gravity fed conveyor forfeeding the articles A into the wrapping station in longitudinalalignment with' the machine, and disposed at the lower end of theconveyor148 are a pair of side trip plates or flaps 150 of'a lengthsuflicient to support three articles A at a time. The trip plates 150are secured to transverse shafts 152 having pinion gears 153 on one endin mesh with upright racks 154 supported at opposite ends of an arm 156.Arm 156 is centrally pivotally connected to a piston rod of a singleacting fluid pressure operated cylinder 158.

Cylinder 158 has a fluid pressure pipe 160 connected to its lower end,and the operation of this cylinder is controlled by a solenoid operatedvalve, to be described, in turn controlled by a switch 162 mounted on atransverse frame member 161 and having an arm 163 adapted to be engagedby a wrapper which is being forwardly projected in a rigid conditionfrom the bevel rollers 130 and 131. Engagement of the arm 163 by theforward edge of the wrapper closes the switch 162 which causes theoperation of the cylinder 158 whereby the arm 156 and racks 154 moveupwardly to rotate the two pinions 153 in opposite directions forpivoting the trip plates 150 downwardly and causing the three articles Aon the trip plates to drop into the packaging station. Arm 156 is biaseddownwardly by a tension spring 164 connected between said arm and themachine frame.

Referring specifically to Figure 8, a magazine unloading arm 168 ispivotally mounted at 169 on the lower side of the chute 148 and has apair of upstanding fingers 170 and 171 adapted to project one at a timethrough suitably spaced apertures 172 in the bottom wall of the chute.The end of the arm adjacent the finger 170 is pivotally connected to apiston rod of a fluid pressure operated cylinder 173 having a fluidpressure pipe 174 connected to the bottom thereof and being pivotallyconnected to one of the frame members 28. The piston rod is normallyretracted in the cylinder 173, but, when fluid pressure is admitted tothe cylinder, the outward movement of its piston rod pivots the arm 168clockwise to move the finger 170 upwardly through an aperture 172 andbetween a pair of articles A. This pivotal movement of the arm 168causes the finger 171 to move downwardly below the bottom wall of thechute to permit the articles up to the finger 170 to-roll downwardlyonto the trip plates 150, the spacing of the fingers 170 and 171 beingsuch as to permit three articles A to be deposited on the trip plates ata time. In the upward position of the finger 170 the articles in themagazine are held back thereby, and, when the piston rod is retracted inits cylinder, the articles in the magazine will roll down intoengagement with the finger 171, as shown. A compression spring 175 isdisposed between the arm 168'and the bottom wall of the chute 148adjacent the finger 170, and this spring biases the arm 168 in acounterclockwise direction. Operation of the cylinder 173 is controlledby a switch 180, Figure 3, having an arm 181 projecting into the path ofthe plunger 138, whereby, when the plunger reaches substautially itsoutward stroke position, it closes the switch and causes the cylinder173 to pivot the arm 168 and allow three articles to roll down onto thetrip plates 150.

Mounted on the upright frame members 147 is a transverse bar 183carrying a pair of shoes 184 which are disposed in predetermined spacedrelation so as to be located between the glue lines 25 of a'wrapper Wprojecting through the wrapping station, best seen in Figure 4. Alsomounted transversely of the machine on upright frame members 186 is atransverse bar 187 to which are secured three longitudinally disposedparallel straps 188. The straps 188 have the same transverse spacing asthe three glue lines on the wrapper and are biased. downwardly byaplurality of springs 190 compressed un-' der longitudinal rigid framemembers 191 mounted under. frame members 161. In one of the final stepsof the package-forming operation, the wrapped packages P are moved underthe spring-pressed straps 188 which apply pressure to the glue lines andcause the glue to unite the surfaces to be joined together.

'At the end of the machine is a conveyor 194 comprising a pair ofpressure belts 195 and 196 disposed in vertically spaced relation. Belt195 passes over rollers 197 keyed to a shaft 198, and belt 196 passesover rollers 199 keyed to a shaft 200. Shaft 200 has a sprocket 202there-- on engaged by a drive chain 203 from a drive motor 204. Alsokeyed to the shaft 200 is a gear 206 meshing with a first idler gear207, in turn meshing with an idler gear 208. Idler gear 208 meshes witha gear 209 on the shaft 198, whereby a drive connection is establishedbetween the two shafts 198 and 199. Spring-pressed rollers 210 engagethe inner runs of belts 195 and 196 and apply pressure to the packagesbeing pushed through the pressing device to set the glue in glue lines25. The length of the conveyor 194 is such as to produce a pressure onthe glue lines for a time sufficient to permit the glue to set. Heat mayalso be applied, if desired, if a heat and pressure sensitive glue isused.

Referring now to the electrical'system, Figure 9 shows the wiringdiagram for the machine drive motor 85'and the conveyor motor 204. Themotors are energized by line wires 213 and 214. Connected to one of theline wires are a pair of normally closed switches 215 and 216, and theseswitches are located at each end of the belt conveyor for convenience inshutting off the conveyor when desired. Connected to the line 213 is ,astart switch 217, and connected between the switch 217 and the conveyormotor 204 is a wire 218 leading to the motor 85. With this arrangement,it is apparent that upon the opening of any one of the switches 215, 216or 217, the conveyor motor 204 as well as the machine drive motor 85will be de-energized so that when the conveyor motor is de-energized,the drive motor 85 cannot cause packages to be moved into the conveyor.In series with the wire 218 are three switches 220, 221 and 222 which,if opened, will de-energize the machine drive motor 85 without stoppingthe conveyor motor.

Referring to Figure 10 there is shown an electrical system forcontrolling the operation of the fluid system, having a pair of supplywires 224 and 225, each provided with a master switch 226. The supplywire 224 is connected to one contact of the switch 162, and the othercontact of this switch is connected to a wire 228 in turn connected tothe supply wire 225 through the coil of a solenoid 229. tact of switch70 operable by the switch arm 68. The other contact of switch 70 isconnected to one end of the coil of the solenoid 232 having its othereud'connected to the supply wire 225. The wire 224 is also connected toa contact of switch 71 operable by the arm 69, and the other contact ofthis switch is connected to one end of a coil of a solenoid 235, theother end of this solenoid coil in turn being connected to the supplywire 225. Supply wire 224 has branch connections 238 and 239 whichbypass the switches 70 and 71, respectively, and normally open pushbutton switches 240 and 241.are

Wire 224 is also connected to a conprovided in. the lines 23-8. and 239,whereby. circuits can be established around. the switches 70 and 71,.ifdesired. Solenoids 232. and 235.- control the. operation. of theplungerl 1380f the cylinder. 135 in opposite directions, as will. be.more 'fullydescrihed hereinafter, and the closing of either ofthe.manual switches 249 0112.41. will energize. the coil. of its.respective solenoid. to. operate the plunger in the cylinder inohe'direction. onthe'. other.

Supply wire. 22.4 is connected to one contactofl the. switch 180. andthe other contact of this. switch is connectedto the coil.of.'a solenoid243. A branch line 245 having a normally open push button switch 246therein bypasses. the. switch lfi'flrwhereby, if the switch 246 ismanually closed, the solenoid 243.will be energized;

Figure 11 shows in detailv the fluid pressure system for operating thecylinders 135, 158 and 173. The fluid pressure. pipes 136-and 137 of-thecylinder 135 lead to a foilrrway valve 2480f conventional construction,having a pressure connection at 249. and a spool-type balanced valvemember 250 to connect the fluid pressure supply with one or the other ofthe pipes 136 or 137. The pipe 136 or 1377, whichever is not connectedWith pressure, communicates with an exhaust pipe 252 or 253,respectively. The valve member 250 is actuated in one directiori. by.the solenoid 232, and is actuated in the other direction by the solenoid235. When the pin 66 on the switch actuator wheel 64engages switch arm69 of switch 71, the coil of solenoid 235 is momentarily energized tocause the valve member 250 to be positioned so that fiuidun'derpressureis admitted through pipe 136 to the back end ofthe cylinder 135for causing the plunger to move outwardly. When the coil of relay 232 ismomentarily energizedbythe engagement of switch arm 68 by its pin 65,the. valve member 250 is moved the other way and fluid pressure isadmitted to the front of cylinder. 235'to retract the plunger. Valvemember 250 always remains in its last position after the actuatingsolenoid-is de-e'ner'g'ized. i

The 'solenoid--229 is adaptedto actuate a two-Way valve 255- whichcontrols the operation of the cylinder 158 in turn operating the tripplates 150. The valve 255 has a balanced spool-type valve member 256 andthisvalve is connected to the pipe 160 leadingfrom cylinder 158, thefluid pressure supply pipe 249, and an exhaust pipe 258', When the coilof solenoid 229is energized, the valve member 256 'is' positioned sothat fluid pressure is admitted'to' the bottom of cylinder158 to drivethe piston-rod; upwardly for operating the trip plates. A spring 260 isprovided in the valve 255for returning the member 256 to its restposition for exhausting the pressure from cylinder 158,

The solenoid-243 controls the operation of a two way valve 262connected-to the pipe 174 leading to the bottom of the c ylinder173'andalso connected to the fluid pressure supply-pipe 249'and an exhaust pipe263. When the coil of-solenoid.243-is energized, the valve 262 causesflui'dito be admitted to the bottom of cylinder 173 for pivoting the arm168 in a clockwise direction and permittingthree ofthe articles A toroll down onto the trip. plates. When solenoid 243 is de-energized, thevalve isIspring-ret-urned to exhaust position as in valve 255.

Method and operation In the normal operation. of the machine, all theswitches zl5, 216, 217, 220, 221 and 222 are closed and the -two motors.204 and. 85 run continuously. If any one, of; the, switches. 215 216or..217 is. opened, both motor's willbe stopped; and. if anyoneoftheswitches 221}, 221 and;2 22 .is opened, the machine drive motor 85 willbe stoppcdbut the.conveyor motor will continue to. operate., In the restposition of the machine in normal.packagingtunctions, all the mentionedswitches will beclosed except the starting switch 217 so that, toplacethe motors in operation, the operator need only closelhi'sla'tteriswithf l N proceeding throiigh theperferating rolls isdriven hy shit? When the operator closes, the switch 217 the. drive.motors. are. energized. to cause the. chains 79. and. 91 to. be. driven,whichfinturn cause the. operation of-the.pitman 57, the switch.actuator. wheel. 64, the perforating wheels. 9.8; and. 105,- the.gluerapplying rollers; 115, the. glue. supply. roller. 1.18 andfthe.bevel: rollers and, In, the. position Qf the, partsshown in Figures- 3;and;4; the rank m. 81B. mov ng. h ou h slower. arcuatetrave c u ing.he-pitm n. 7: ore a t ee m. 45 in r n s o ove h owe m t wrappe w. y.- n.this same position of the parts the pll1l1g11.1 &;l11 the. cy nde 5:. s.e rac ed andh e ti re up- POU 1I e r n lat a fllappe W disp dh W rni gtio 1 5 dhe orw rd: nd; he wfi is moving. into. engagemcntwith theswitch. arm 1.63, oh switch 162, as showii in Figure 3.

When the, wrapper. in, the wrapping station engagesthe arm 163, the,switch, 1 62 i s. closed for energizingthecoil of relay 229.. whichactuates the valve. 255 and fluid flows to the bottom of, cylinder,1 58through the pipe 160. The piston rod in the cylinder. 158-- is drivenoutwardly for, moving the arrn156 and racks154 upwardly to rotate thetrip plates 15.0 ClQW IWQIdIY and cause the threearticles, thereon tofall. onto the wrapper. After the fluid pres sure to cylinderv 1 58 isout 01f, the spring 164 retracts the, piston rodinthecylinder 158 tocause the trip plates to rotate upwardly and be ina positionto receivethree more articles,

Figure 6 shows the articlesin their dropped position and, as thearticlessornove to their dropped position, theycarry the wrapper downwardly intoengagement with thefloor of the wrapping station, the creases- 16 and17'; being dispos ed at-thistirne in vertical alignment withthe 14s f:e; l s; ame h Pa wil be a a l formed Qne endof the wrapperengagestheedgecf lip 0 f he i shsn- Plate. .1 d w at er. nd f hwrapper,engages,the transverse bar.187'.

sn ra r s e n q edi ndhe,

articlfis as descri d,rotation of the shaft 60; has caused the pitman 57to moveanother wrapper into the perforating rolls Also, at. this timethe pin 66 on the switch a tu t r. W e .4; 1101 6 into e me t wi e 69 ofswitch 71 to close this switch for energizingv the coil of solenoid 235.When the coil of this solenoid is energized, it actuates. the valve 248to cause fluid under, pressuretoflow to. the rear end of the cylinder135;. whereby theplunger,138 will be moved-outwardly. The head plate,139 -is,of predetermined height so that the lip 144 folds the flap 23ov er the upper end of the articles, as. shown in Figure.7,- this viewshowing the articles, moved part way through the wrapping station with aflap. 23being folded on its crease 15.

As the .articles movetothe Figure 7 position, the for: ward or leadingendofthe package moves under the. transverse bar 187 which causes thewrapper to be folded back on its crease 18, the .upwardly projectingportion of the wrapper engaging, the shoes 184 on the bar 183, it.beingremembered that theshoes 184 are spaced soas-to be betweenthe gluelines.2 5. Additionalinovement of theuplunger moves thepackageunder thestraps 188. to fold the top 2101" the wrapper down on the articles andonthe flap 23, and, about this time, the plunger 138. engages the arm1810f switch which closes the circuit to thecoil of relay 243 to actuatethe valve- 262 and causethecylinder173 to driveits piston rod upwardlyand allow three more-articles to roll downon thetrip plates.15.(l..for.thenext packaging-operation.

' When the.,plunger.1-385has.reachedthe end-of its-stroke,

the package .hasbben pushed-under the hold down. straps.

188. At this sametime, the pin .65 on the switchactri ator wheel 6.4engagesthearm 68 of switch 70 for energizing the coil of solenoid-232which actuates the valve 248 to supply fluid to the. front end of thecylinder and retract the plunger. The next wrapper whicl rhas been rollsunder the glue-applying rolls 115 and into the bevel rollers 130 and 131which warp and move the wrapper forwardly through the wrapping stationinto engagement with the switch arm 63 for repeating the next cycle' 'ofoperation. The packages P move from under the straps 188 to the-beltconveyor mechanism 194 and this con veyor is preferably of a lengthto'maintain a pressure on the glue lines a sufficient length of time toset the glue.

It. will thereby be seen that the present machine provides a continuousmethod of feeding, perforating and gluing a carton wrapper, then foldingthe wrapper around a plurality of articles and conveying the unit underpressure to a desired place. The package formed is open sided andindividual articles can readily be separated from the rest of thepackage by tearing along a suitable'perforation line 24. When thearticle being packaged comprises a fuel product, the wrapper. portion,which is removed from the package with an article therein, can be usedto assist in igniting the article. I Having now described my inventionand in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desireto protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for wrapping an elongated article comprising means forapplying a glue line longitudinally along one face of an elongatedwrapper blank, means. for de-,

positing an article longitudinally on said glue line, means fortransversely folding said wrapper around both ends of said article andover the top thereof, and means for pressing said wrapper against saidarticle on said glue line.

2. A machine for wrapping articles-comprising means for forming spacedparallel tear lines in a wrapper blank, means for applying parallelstrips Of glue to one face of said wrapper on both sides of saidtear-lines, means for depositing a separate article on each of said gluestrips, and means for folding said wrapper around said articles.

3. A machine for wrapping elongated articles in elongated wrapper blankscomprising means for forming parallel longitudinal tear lines in saidblank, means for applying parallel longitudinal strips of glue onopposite sides of said tear lines, means for applying a separate articlelongitudinally on each glue line, and means for folding said blanktransversely around the ends of said articles to overlie opposite sidesthereof.

4. A machine for wrapping articles comprising power driven perforatingrolls arranged to perforate a wrapper in parallel spaced lines and todrive said wrapper in said machine, means for applying strips of glue toone face of said wrapper on both sides of said perforation lines, meansfor depositiing a separate afiicle on each of said glue strips, andmeans for folding said wrapper around said articles.

through said machine, means for applying glue lines to one face of saidwrapper on both sides of said perforation lines, a wrapping station,means operable on said wrapper to move said wrapper into said wrappingstation after disengagement thereof by said perforating rollers, meansat said wrapping station for depositing a separate article on each ofsaid glue strips, and means for folding said wrapper around saidarticles.

6. An article packaging machine comprising a magazine for stackedwrapper blanks, means for sliding a single wrapper blank at a time fromthe bottom of said magazine, perforating rolls in the path of movementof said wrapper adapted to perforate said wrapper in parallel spacedlines, means for applying glue lines to one face of said wrapper on bothsides of each line of perforations each of said glue lines serving toreceive and fix a separate article, a wrapping station, means operableon said wrapper for moving said wrapper into said wrapping station,article depositing means above said wrapping Nation for supporting apredetermined number of articles ""10 above said wrapper and depositingsaid articles by gravity on said wrapper, and means for folding saidwrapper around said articles.

7'. A machine for wrapping elongated articles comprising means forlongitudinally feeding individual elongated wrapper blanks, means forforming parallel longitudinal tear lines in said wrappers, means forapplying longitudinal glue lines to the upper face of said wrappers onboth sides of said tear lines, article depositing means for supporting apredetermined number of articles longitudinally disposed in side by siderelation above a wrapper and arranged to deposit said articles on theupper face of said wrapper, means for folding said wrapper transverselyaround the ends of said articles, and press means for adhering saidarticles to said wrapper at said glue lines.

8. A machine for wrapping articles comprising means for applyingparallel glue lines to wrappers for said articles, a wrapping stationhaving a floor, means to pro-. ject said wrappers individually into saidwrapping station above said floor surface, article feed means disposedabove said wrapping station, said article feed means being arranged tosupport a number of articles equal to the number of glue lines on saidwrapper, means in said article feed means for releasing said articlessimultaneously for depositing them on said wrapper in engages ment withsaid glue lines, and means for folding said wrapper around saidarticles.

9. A'machine for wrapping articles comprising a wrap-. pingstationhaving a floor, means to move a wrapper for said articles intosaid wrapping station, support means at opposite endsof said wrappingstation for suspending said wrapper above said floor, transverse feedmeans for, said articles adapted to support apredetermined number ofarticles over said suspended wrapper, release means on said feed meansadapted to drop said articles on said wrapper for forcing the wrapperdownwardly to said floor and partially folding said wrapper around saidarticles, and control means engageable by said wrapper for actuatingsaid release means.

10. A machine for wrapping articles comprising a wrapping station havinga fioor, means to move a wrapper for said articles into said wrappingstation, a transverse support member at one end of said wrapping stationarranged to underlie said wrapper, a plunger normally disposed at theother of end of said wrapping station, a transverse lip on said plungerarranged to underlie said 'wrapper, support means adapted to supportarticles to be packaged above said wrapper and adapted to release saidarticles for depositing them on said wrapper, said articles whendeposited on said wrapper forcing said wrapper to said floor betweensaid transverse support member and said lip, said downward movement ofsaid wrapper between said transverse support member and said lippartially folding said wrapper around said articles.

11. A machine for wrapping articles comprising a wrapping station havinga floor, means to move a wrapper for said articles into said wrappingstation, a transverse support member at one end of said wrapping stationarranged to underlie said wrapper, a plunger normally disposed at theother end of said wrapping station, means for driving said plungerthrough said wrapping station, a transverse lip on said plunger arrangedto underlie said wrapper, article supporting members above said wrappingstation for suspending said articles to be packaged above said wrapperand adapted to release said articles for depositing them by gravity on awrapper supported in said wrapping station, said articles when depositedon said wrapper forcing said Wrapper to said floor whereby said downwardmovement of the wrapper between said transverse support and said lip onthe plunger partially folds said wrapper around said articles, and meansto drive said plunger through said wrapping staltion to fold portions ofthe wrapper around said artic es.

12. In an article packaging machine, a wrapping stationt having a.floor,- means to move; a wrapper for; said articles into-saidwrappingstation, support means .at; op posite ends of said wrapping stationforlsuspendingsaid' wrappen abovetsaidfloor, a transverse chuteextending intovsaid wrapping station, apair of trip plates at-the end'ofsaid'chute adapted to support'a: predetermined; number,- of articles,drive meansrassociated withesaidatrip plates for rotatingsaid', platesbetween a position for holding said predetermined numberofarticleslabovosaidsuspendedawrapper. andza positionlfordropping,saidarticleson said wrapper, a pivoted arm adjacent said chute, and:spaced'fingersl on said arm projecting into said :chute. for passing 7said predetermined" number I of articles sonto, said trip plates uponpivoted .movementoflsaidaarmt,

13: In apackagingrnachinefor wrapping articles,- a,

magazine for holdin g a-plurality of wrappers, a reciprocating feedarm-fonremovingiasingle..wrapper.-frornlsaid magazine at atime drivemea-nsiforlsaid feed arm, means for perforating-said wrappersinlongitudinal parallel lines, means for.v applying longitudinal glues.lines: on each side of said perforation, a wrapping-station,articleholding means 1 at said wrapping station adaptedto deposit.art-icles by'gravitylongitudinally .on the glue lines on saidwrappersarticle supplymeanst for feedingarticles tosaidholding means,- areciprocating plunger adjacent saidw-r-apping station adapted to foldsaid wrapper-around said articles, means operated by saidfeedarmdriverneans for controlling the reciprocatingmovernent sofisaidlplunger, means operated bysaid plunger for controllin-gthe operation ofthe-article supply means, and meansoperated by a wrapper in saidwrappingstationnforactuating said :article holding means.

14. A method of-wrapping-elongated articles compriseing perforating anelongated wrapper alonglongitudinal parallel lines, applyinglongitudinal strips of glue on one faceof saidiwrapper on each side. of?said perforation linfisrdepositing an articlesto be packaged onseachofsaid glue linesrini longitudinal-contact therewith, andwfolding said wr.apper transversely, around the..ends' of saicLar ticles.

15. A, method of wrapping a plurality of fiat-ended cylindrical articlesina singlepackage comprising per forating a flat wrapper blank alongparallel lines, apply.- ing strips. of glueuon one face of. said wrapperon each side ofsaidperforation lines, suspending said: wrapper by spacedsupports, depositing said articlesby gravity on each of. said glue linesintermediate said supports forlowering said-wrapper and partiallyfolding itaround the ends of said articles, thereafter foldingsaidwrapperaround the remaining portion ofsaid articles, andsubsequently applying. pressure to saidwrapperat said glue lines 16. Thearticle packaging machine of claim-12 inwhich theirneans. tomove thewrapper forsaid articles-into said wrapping station includes a doublepair ofbeveled rollers-disposed in transversely spaced relation-adjacentsaidwrapping station relative to the direction of= feedmovement, saidpairs of rollers being beveled in 0p posite directions for feedingsaidwrapper into said wrapping station in a transversely warpedlongitudinally rigid condition.

Refe ences it d n. h, P e t umrnnl STATES PATENTS 639,-354- Butler Dec.19; 1899 2,294,220 Albertson Aug. 25, 1942 2,509,622 Woolcott May 301950 2,522,682- Lewis-- "Sept. 19, 1950 2,603,922" Chidsey July 2 2,19-52 2,677,221 Currie May 4,1954- 2,8-38,188 Mason June- 10, 1958:

